1.
civil liability; civil responsibility
Legal responsibility under civil law for damages or losses caused to another party. This typically involves compensation through monetary payment, as opposed to criminal punishment.
In traffic accidents, civil liability arises separately from criminal liability.
A compound of 民事 (civil affairs/law) and 責任 (responsibility, liability). A fundamental legal term distinguishing civil disputes from criminal matters.
Common collocations
- 民事責任を負う — to bear civil liability
- 民事責任を問う — to hold someone civilly liable
- 民事責任を追及する — to pursue civil liability
- 民事責任が発生する — for civil liability to arise
Similar words
- 刑事責任 — criminal liability: punishment by the state (fines, imprisonment), while 民事責任 is about compensating the victim. The same act, such as an assault or a traffic accident, can give rise to both.
- 損害賠償責任 — liability for damages (a specific type of civil liability)
- 不法行為 — tort; unlawful act (a common basis for civil liability)
Related Words
Compare:
刑事責任 (criminal liability)